Self-tailing winch

ABSTRACT

A conventional sailboat winch is rendered self-tailing by the provision of a pinch roller supported for movement between a first position spaced sufficiently from the winch so that a number of turns of line may be wrapped thereon and a second position engaging one or more of the turns on the winch to lock the same to the winch drum.

0 011m States Patem 1 1 1111 3,841,606

Declercq 1 Oct. 15, 1974 SELF-TAILING WINCH 3,753,551 8/1973 Tidwell 254/150 R Inventor: Maurice G. Declercq 1143 3.770244 11/1973 McCloud 254/150 R X Buckingham Rd, Grosse Pointe, Mlch- 48230 Primal E.\'aminerLloyd L. King [22] Filed: Oct 26, 1973 Assistant ExaminerRzmdo1ph A. Reese [21] Appl. No.: 410,229

[57] ABSTRACT [52] 11.8. CI 254/150 R, 114/218, 226/90,

226/1871 242/47011 254/186 HC A conventional sailboat winch is rendered se1f-tailing the provision of a pinch roller upported for move- Field of Seamh 254/150 R1 173 R1 186 R1 ment between a first position spaced sufficiently from 254/186 HC1 190 191; 114/1091 1111 1991 the winch so that a number of turns of line may be 218; 242/47011 47-09; 226/901 187 wrapped thereon and a second position engaging one or more of the turns on the winch to lock the same to [56] References Cited the winch drum UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,100,626 8/1963 Good 254/150 R X 10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 1 1 I 1 02L 4 a6 1 PATENTEDBBT 1 M 3341.606

SHEET 2 BF 2 FiG.4

FIG 5 SELF-TAILING WINCH FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to self-tailing winches, particularly self-tailing sailboat winches.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Within the last thirty years small winches for use on I sail yachts have become popular. These winches generally comprise a winch drum having radial outwardly flaring ends defining therebetween a line-receiving portion about which several turns of line may be wrapped. One end of the line is connected to a sail or other item to be pulled, and the other end of the line is held in a crewmans hand and pulled away from the winch. A winch handle associated with the winch is actuated by the crew to rotate the winch and pull in the sail or other item.

In view of the fact such winches require the free end of the line to be pulled while at the same time the winch handle is cranked, the use of such winches requires two hands or even two crewmen, particularly where large forces are involved. In such latter case it is'customary to have one crewman act as a tailer and another as the wincher".

For the cruising yachtsman where but two people may handle a rather large sail yacht, the use of the aforementioned winches during strong winds presents serious difficulties because of the inability and/or danger involved in one person attempting to both tail the line as well as crank the winch.

Accordingly, a need has arisen for self-tailing winches for sail yachts. A few such winches have ap peared on the market but to my knowledge they either require the threading of the line into them, or they are useful with only one size line, and in any event existing winches cannot be adapted for self-tailing use. As a consequence the yachtsman wishing to utilize the commercially available self-tailing winches must discard his existing winches and in view of the high cost of marine hardware this is extremely expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, I propose a self-tailing winch assembly which utilizes conventional winches thereby permitting the yachtsman to convert his existing winches to the self-tailing variety. In addition, the winch manufacturer by utilizing the teachings disclosed herein may offera self-tailing winch assembly consisting of the manufacturers present winch design together with the accessory rendering it self-tailing. In accordance with my invention I provided a pinch roller which is supported adjacent the winch for movement between a first position sufficiently remote from the winch so that the crew may quickly and as heretofore wrap several turns of line around the winch, and a second position in which the pinch roller bears against the line locking it to the winch drum. A quick acting throw mechanism and over-center lock together with spring biasing means is incorporated in the pinch roller support. The invention permits the yachtsman to utilize a variety of line sizes on the same winch and the winch will be self-tailing with all of them.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a fragmentary side view of a sail yacht show-v ing my improved self-tailing winch assembly;

FIG. 2 shows the self-tailing winch assembly of FIG. I in which the pinch roller is retracted;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 but the pinch roller is shifted into engagement with the line on the winch;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 44 0 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the pinch roller with the sup porting quill and shaft in section;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 77 of FIG. 3; and,

FIG. 8 is a side elevation showing a modified form of the pinch roller.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The fragmentary portion of the hull 10 of a sailboat is shown in FIG. 1 with a sail, such as a genoa jib indicated at 12. In a typical arrangement a jib sheet 14 extends from the clew of the jib beneath a block 16 and thence to a winch 18 where it is wrapped thereupon with the free end coming off at the top as at 20, and with a winch handle 22 removably connected to the top of the winch. In normal practice the jib sheet 14 is wrapped about the winch drum prior to attachment of the handle 22. By grasping the free end 20 and swinging the handle 22 the winch will serve to pullin the jib sheet. Suitable ratchet means within the winch prevent it from reverse movement.

My invention contemplates the provision of a pinch roller which will lock the turns of the line on the winch drum. A typical popular design winch is shown in FIG. 2. The winch includes a drum having radial outwardly flared ends 24 and 26 which define between them a line-receiving central portion 28. The central portion 28 is preferably lightly knurled or roughened to increase the frictional engagement with the line. In some instances, as when the central portion has become worn and smoothed, it may be found desirable either to machine or otherwise treat it (as by the application of a tape having a rough exterior surface) so that the central portion is capable of providing a suitable friction between it and the line. My invention includes a support means for the pinch roller which is mounted adjacent the winch and includes a swingably supported rol- Ier shaft 30 pivotally connected at its lower end to a base 32 and rockably supporting the pinch roller 34 at its upper end.

The base 32 may have a triangular base plate 36, as shown in FIG. 4, upwardly from which extends a pair of walls 38 and 40 with the shaft 30 pivotally mounted on a pin 42 which extends transversely between and through the walls. Another pin 44 extends transversely between and through the walls 38 and 40. Such pin is received in a pair of elongate slots 46 and48. A pair of springs 50 and 52 encircle the pins and urge the pin 44 toward the pin 42.

An over-center lock extends between the shaft 30 and the pin 44. Such over-center lock includes a link member 54 mounted on pin 44 and pivotally connected to the outer end of a second link 56 by a connecting pin 58. A second connecting pin60 connects the link 56 to out of the link 54 and upon grasping the same the pinch roller may be swung from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. 3 in a single rapid movement and locked therein. In the locked position the connecting pin 58 lies slightly below an imaginary line connecting pins 60 and 44. The link 56 is provided with a web portion 64 which abuts the link 54 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7 to limit the counterclockwise swinging movement oflink 54 from the FIG. 2 to the FIG. 3 position.

The roller 34 is preferably made of urethane or other suitable rubber and is sufficiently soft so that when urged against the line on the winch will conform somewhat thereto ensuring good contact therewith, somewhat as shown in FIG. 3. The roller is mounted on a sleeve 68 (which may have flanged ends) to which it is preferably adhered. The sleeve 68 is in turn mounted on the quill 70. Any suitable bearing material may be used for the members 68 and 70. The quill 70 is connected to the upper end of the shaft 30 by a cross pin 72. The shaft 30 is turned to a cylindrical configuration from the point 74 outwardly to its end on an axis coincident with the shaft axis. It is also turned to the same diameter on an axis at an angle to the shaft axis to provide a relief as at 76 in FIG. 6. The relief 76 enables the roller 34 to rock on the upper end of the shaft 30 and thereby permits the roller to align itself with the turns on the winch as shown in FIG. 3.

It will be noted from FIGS. 1 and 3 that the roller is disposed, and its point of pivoting or rocking motion as determined by the pin 72 is laterally adjacent the topmost or upper two turns of the line 14 on the winch. As the strain on the line is greatest through the standing portion 14a shown in FIG. 3, by gripping the top turn or top two turns on the winch drum as illustrated in FIG. 3, the line is caused to bind itself or be self-locking on the winch. Therefore, my invention preferably contemplates the pinch roller causing the top turn to be pinched against the winch drum and the rocking motion of the pinch roller serves to cause alignment of the roller with the line to accomplish the aforementioned gripping of the line against the drum.

In addition, the rocking mount of the pinch roller on the shaft 30 assists in accommodating the pinch roller to handle lines of different diameters, and varying numbers of turns of line on the winch, while at the same time insuring that all or most of the squeezing action or pinching of the line against the drum will occur at the top turn or turns. It will be noted from a consideration of the drawings that the rocking motion or angled position of the roller will vary in accordance with the diameter of the line and the number of turns of line.

The springs 50 and 52 will serve to provide a bias or yielding tension of the pinch roller against the line and in addition will serve to hold the over-center lock mechanism in locked condition. Also, the springs permit the device to accommodate lines of different diameters and different numbers of turns while at the same time maintaining proper pinching pressure on the line.

In FIG. 8 the mechanism is generally similar to that previously described except the pinch roller can pivot on shaft 30 in the opposite direction and is provided with a peripheral portion 78 oflesser diameter than the line-engaging portion 80. Portion 78 is intended to abut the upper rim or flange 24 of the winch to be driven by the winch during its rotation. The relative diameters of roller portions 78 and 80 are such in relation to the diameters of the rim 24 and the exterior surface of the line on the winch drum that the surface speed of the portion 80 is greater than the surface speed of the line on the drum. As a consequence the line on the drum engaged by the roller is kept under a pulling tension by the roller serving to urge the line off the drum faster than the drum surface is moving.

If desired the pinch roller and supporting mechanism may be sold by the winch manufacturer as a complete assembly with a winch, in which event the winch and the pinch roller and supporting mechanism may be integrally mounted on a supporting plate as indicated at 84 in FIGS. 1 or 8, which maybe fastened to the yacht by suitable through-bolted fasteners 86. The base plate 36 may in turn be secured to the base 84 by screws or the like 88. Alternatively, when the pinch roller and its supporting mechanism are sold as an accessory for use with existing winches on the sailboat, the base plate 36 may be bolted or otherwise secured directly to the yacht adjacent the winch without the use of the base 84.

What is claimed is:

l. A self-tailing sailboat winch assembly comprising, in combination:

a sailboat winch drum,

a rotatable pinch roller,

support means supporting the pinch roller for rapid lateral shifting between a first position sufficiently remote from the winch drum to allow rapid manual wrapping over one end of the winch drum of several turns of line thereabout and a second position closely adjacent the drum and pinching the line thereagainst, and

quick release locking means for holding said pinch roller in said second position.

2. The invention defined by claim 1 characterized in that said pinch roller is carried for rockable movement on said support means whereby in said second position the pinch roller is self-orienting in relation to the turns of line on the winch drum as it is pinched thereagainst.

3. The invention defined by claim 2 characterized in that said winch drum has an increased diameter peripheral portion adjacent one end and said pinch roller has a peripheral portion for engaging said peripheral portion of the winch drum and the relative diameters of said peripheral portions tending to drive the roller at a greater peripheral speed where it engages the line on the winch drum than the peripheral speed of such line.

4. The invention defined by claim 1 characterized in that said support means is arranged to support the pinch roller for engagement of the roller primarily with one or more turns of line on the winch drum closest to said one end of the winch drum.

5. The invention defined by claim 1 characterized in that said pinch roller is rockably mounted on said support means with the center of said rockable mounting disposed axially beyond the turn of line on the winch drum closest said one end.

6. The invention defined by claim 1 characterized in that said support means includes yieldable biasing means for yieldably biasing said pinch roller against the line on the winch drum.

7. The invention defined by claim 1 characterized in that said locking means is an over-center lock including spring biasing means for retaining the lock in a condition holding the pinch roller in said second position.

8. Apparatus for rendering a sailboat winch selftailing, comprising:

a pinch roller,

quick acting support means for said pinch roller adapted to be mounted adjacent the winch for supporting the roller for rapid lateral shifting between a first position spaced from the winch a distance sufficient to allow rapid manual wrapping of several turns of line around the winch and a second position overlying and engaging the line on the winch and locking the turns thereon, and

said quick acting support means including releasable locking mechanism for holding said pinch roller in said second position.

9. The invention defined by claim 8 characterized in that said pinch roller has two stepped diameter portions, the larger one for engaging the line on the winch and the smaller one engaging an end flange of the winch, with the relative diameters of such stepped portions being so related to the relative diameters of the winch flange and the exterior surface of the line turns on the winch that said pinch roller tends to drive the line turns on the winch at a greater speed thus applying a pulling tension on the line.

10. The invention defined by claim 8 characterized in that said support means includes a base plate and an upstanding roller supporting shaft pivotally connected atone end to the plate and rockably supporting the roller at the other end, over-center locking mechanism connected at one end to the base plate and at the other end to said shaft and including handle means for shifting the same, and spring means for yieldingly urging the pinch roller toward the turns on the Winch when the locking mechanism is in its over-center locked position. 

1. A self-tailing sailboat winch assembly comprising, in combination: a sailboat drum, a rotatable pinch roller, support means supporting the pinch roller for rapid lateral shifTing between a first position sufficiently remote from the winch drum to allow rapid manual wrapping over one end of the winch drum of several turns of line thereabout and a second position closely adjacent the drum and pinching the line thereagainst, and quick release locking means for holding said pinch roller in said second position.
 2. The invention defined by claim 1 characterized in that said pinch roller is carried for rockable movement on said support means whereby in said second position the pinch roller is self-orienting in relation to the turns of line on the winch drum as it is pinched thereagainst.
 3. The invention defined by claim 2 characterized in that said winch drum has an increased diameter peripheral portion adjacent one end and said pinch roller has a peripheral portion for engaging said peripheral portion of the winch drum and the relative diameters of said peripheral portions tending to drive the roller at a greater peripheral speed where it engages the line on the winch drum than the peripheral speed of such line.
 4. The invention defined by claim 1 characterized in that said support means is arranged to support the pinch roller for engagement of the roller primarily with one or more turns of line on the winch drum closest to said one end of the winch drum.
 5. The invention defined by claim 1 characterized in that said pinch roller is rockably mounted on said support means with the center of said rockable mounting disposed axially beyond the turn of line on the winch drum closest said one end.
 6. The invention defined by claim 1 characterized in that said support means includes yieldable biasing means for yieldably biasing said pinch roller against the line on the winch drum.
 7. The invention defined by claim 1 characterized in that said locking means is an over-center lock including spring biasing means for retaining the lock in a condition holding the pinch roller in said second position.
 8. Apparatus for rendering a sailboat winch self-tailing, comprising: a pinch roller, quick acting support means for said pinch roller adapted to be mounted adjacent the winch for supporting the roller for rapid lateral shifting between a first position spaced from the winch a distance sufficient to allow rapid manual wrapping of several turns of line around the winch and a second position overlying and engaging the line on the winch and locking the turns thereon, and said quick acting support means including releasable locking mechanism for holding said pinch roller in said second position.
 9. The invention defined by claim 8 characterized in that said pinch roller has two stepped diameter portions, the larger one for engaging the line on the winch and the smaller one engaging an end flange of the winch, with the relative diameters of such stepped portions being so related to the relative diameters of the winch flange and the exterior surface of the line turns on the winch that said pinch roller tends to drive the line turns on the winch at a greater speed thus applying a pulling tension on the line.
 10. The invention defined by claim 8 characterized in that said support means includes a base plate and an upstanding roller supporting shaft pivotally connected at one end to the plate and rockably supporting the roller at the other end, over-center locking mechanism connected at one end to the base plate and at the other end to said shaft and including handle means for shifting the same, and spring means for yieldingly urging the pinch roller toward the turns on the winch when the locking mechanism is in its over-center locked position. 